The Isthmian Premier Scholars arrived in Essex after a plucky FA Cup exit at Barnet on Tuesday. The sides played out a 1-1 draw last Saturday but the National League side came from behind to win 3-1 in the replay.

Swifts, who started the day fourth in the Isthmian North, were on a three-game winning run which included a 2-0 success in the last round of this competition at Staines Town.

And Heybridge manager Karl Duguid named an attacking starting XI with Matt Price coming in to start up front alongside top scorer Alex Teniola.

But it was the visitors who went close early on when the skillful Imedd Kartita’s shot clipped the outside of the post after the ball broke kindly to him inside the box.

Swifts keeper Luca Collins made a fine tip over to deny ex-Swift George Craddock’s direct free-kick before Heybridge defender Toib Adeyemi headed into the side netting from Jack Adlington’s corner midway through the first-half.

It turned into an at-times niggly battle of attrition in increasingly heavy rain before the best chance of the half fell to Ryan Young on the stroke of half-time, but the Potters Bar winger sliced a shot from 15-yards over the bar with only Collins to beat.

But they did not have to wait long to take the lead after the restart as the hosts were made to pay for a slow start. The ball fell nicely for Ben Ward-Cochrane on the edge of the box and he curled a right-foot beauty past the full-stretch dive of Collins and into the top right corner.

Swifts, with the driving rain in their faces, levelled ten minutes later when Price did brilliantly to hold off his markers in the box and lay the ball off for Teniola to side-foot a powerful shot in off the underside of the bar.

The visitors retook the lead with a little under 20 minutes to go when Andrew Lomas sent in a nice low centre from the left and striker Josh Hutchinson took a steadying touch before turning on the spot and side-footing home from 12 yards.

Swifts best chance of a leveller came with two minutes of the 90 remaining when Tyler Corlett’s header from Jey Siva’s corner skidded wide.

Swifts return to action on Saturday (Nov 2) with an Isthmian North game at Aveley. It is the first time Heyrbidge will be back at Parkside since their epic play-off semi-final win there in the spring. Kick off is at 3pm.

SWIFTS STAR MAN (PICKED BY JAMES COLASANTI): Elliott Ronto.